And if he does all of those things flawlessly AND has Jesus Christ rise up from the void to endorse him, the media will reluctantly raise their evaluation from "Obama got destroyed out there" to "It was a tie but only in the thinnest possible sense, I don't think this was the performance Obama needed."

Good article and I think mostly right. I would suggest to perhaps modify the point about being read for surprising as characterizing Romney as both a flip-flopper and as someone who will say anything to bet elected.

2. Run on your record- you have a great economic record! Remind people that when you took office the US was losing 750,000 jobs a month, and it is now gaining 150,000 jobs per month. Remind people that when you took office our GDP was falling at a rate of 8.9% and it is now growing at a rate of 1.5 to 2 %. Remind people that when you took office GM and Chrysler were on the brink of collapse, and now they are both doing great. Remind people that the recession you inherited was 400% worse than any recession since 1945, and a hole that big takes a while to dig out of, but we are doing it, and we will continue to do it.

3. Respond to the lies - When he brings up the green jobs, tell people that the success rate of the green jobs program is better than Romneys record at Bain. When he brings up the $716 billion from medicare, don't go off on some tangent, simply say that the savings won't impact people and will extend the life of medicare for another 15 years. When he brings up Libya, say that you are proud of the job the deiplomats perform, they have a tough job in dangerous conditions, and you won't stoop to playing a political game with a tragedy.

4. ATTACK HIM. Romney has given you a mountain of gaffes, misstatements, flip flops, and out right lies- USE THEM. The 47%, the London Olympic debacle, the numerous positions on abortion, taxes, etc. There is enough for 10 debates, but you have to use it.

5. Finally- NEVER NEVER NEVER denigrate yourself- Don't say you haven't been a perfect president, don't say you haven't done everything you promised, don't say you wish you could have done more. That is Romneys job. Your job is to remind people of the good you accomplished, and to promise to continue to fight for them.

Dinki:5. Finally- NEVER NEVER NEVER denigrate yourself- Don't say you haven't been a perfect president, don't say you haven't done everything you promised, don't say you wish you could have done more. That is Romneys job. Your job is to remind people of the good you accomplished, and to promise to continue to fight for them.

2. Run on your record- you have a great economic record! Remind people that when you took office the US was losing 750,000 jobs a month, and it is now gaining 150,000 jobs per month. Remind people that when you took office our GDP was falling at a rate of 8.9% and it is now growing at a rate of 1.5 to 2 %. Remind people that when you took office GM and Chrysler were on the brink of collapse, and now they are both doing great. Remind people that the recession you inherited was 400% worse than any recession since 1945, and a hole that big takes a while to dig out of, but we are doing it, and we will continue to do it.

3. Respond to the lies - When he brings up the green jobs, tell people that the success rate of the green jobs program is better than Romneys record at Bain. When he brings up the $716 billion from medicare, don't go off on some tangent, simply say that the savings won't impact people and will extend the life of medicare for another 15 years. When he brings up Libya, say that you are proud of the job the deiplomats perform, they have a tough job in dangerous conditions, and you won't stoop to playing a political game with a tragedy.

4. ATTACK HIM. Romney has given you a mountain of gaffes, misstatements, flip flops, and out right lies- USE THEM. The 47%, the London Olympic debacle, the numerous positions on abortion, taxes, etc. There is enough for 10 debates, but you have to use it.

5. Finally- NEVER NEVER NEVER denigrate yourself- Don't say you haven't been a perfect president, don't say you haven't done everything you promised, don't say you wish you could have done more. That is Romneys job. Your job is to remind people of the good you accomplished, and to promise to continue to fight for them.

mrshowrules:Diogenes: #9 - use some of the wit he employs on the campaign trail.

GOP Translation: "Obama was disrespect and made fun of Americans suffering"

If he fact checks Romney: "Constantly Interrupted and was rude to Romney"

If he is Polite: "Was asleep, appeared that the debate process with something that was beneath him"

If he is forceful in his arguments: "He was aggressiveness and reckless. Loose cannon"

If Obama wins: "It was a draw and will not stop the Mitmentum"

If it is a draw: "Obama lost definitively and Romney wins the election"

If Obama loses: "He was crushed and proof positive that American was hoodwinked into electing him. Prepare for a Reagan/Mondale level of failure this November"

No doubt. But you can't let that make you defeatist - "No matter what I do..." etc.

You'll never be able to put the final stake in the heart of any opponent in one debate. I say, don't try to. Focus on doing your best and the rest will follow. Obama's got the skills, the mastery of the facts, and shiatton of ammunition courtesy of Romney. Only one of which he employed in the last debate (facts).

He should show up on stage with a two-handed sword and stab it into the stage right next to the podium between he and Romney. Considering how the right-wing agenda news will spin this no matter what the outcome, I don't think a big ass sword will make much of a difference to them but it will sure throw Romney off.

UberDave:He should show up on stage with a two-handed sword and stab it into the stage right next to the podium between he and Romney. Considering how the right-wing agenda news will spin this no matter what the outcome, I don't think a big ass sword will make much of a difference to them but it will sure throw Romney off.

Bring a small DVD player. Place it on the chair behind him. Just leave it there. Romney will wonder what he's ready to play even if he never touches it all night.

Diogenes:No doubt. But you can't let that make you defeatist - "No matter what I do..." etc.

You'll never be able to put the final stake in the heart of any opponent in one debate. I say, don't try to. Focus on doing your best and the rest will follow. Obama's got the skills, the mastery of the facts, and shiatton of ammunition courtesy of Romney. Only one of which he employed in the last debate (facts).

I'm getting the sneaky feeling that there are just a whole lot of dumb farkers out there that just want to vote for Romney and will take any excuse they can. Romney can call half of Americans freeloaders but if Obama doesn't wear a big enough flag pin, it will cancel that out.

Romney said let Detroit go bankrupt but that is cancelled out by Obama attending a celebrity fundraiser.

mrshowrules:Diogenes: No doubt. But you can't let that make you defeatist - "No matter what I do..." etc.

You'll never be able to put the final stake in the heart of any opponent in one debate. I say, don't try to. Focus on doing your best and the rest will follow. Obama's got the skills, the mastery of the facts, and shiatton of ammunition courtesy of Romney. Only one of which he employed in the last debate (facts).

I'm getting the sneaky feeling that there are just a whole lot of dumb farkers out there that just want to vote for Romney and will take any excuse they can. Romney can call half of Americans freeloaders but if Obama doesn't wear a big enough flag pin, it will cancel that out.

Romney said let Detroit go bankrupt but that is cancelled out by Obama attending a celebrity fundraiser.

That's been part of Romney's MO all along. Any major failing of his is countered with a minor (and specious at that) one of Obama's, so it's a push. It's been one of the more subtle (and not much at that) tactics of his campaign that I've found highly frustrating.

That one, you have to let go. If Obama engages on those it will result in a pointless pissing match. Deny the framework Romney has built. Don't argue from within that framework. Construct a better one.

Dinki:mrshowrules: So basically what Biden did with less interrupting?

Even Biden only scratched the surface on attacking Romney. There is so much material, Obama only needs to use it.

fark the right. Obama needs to motivate his base and go down fighting or win fighting. Let the media say that a black man in Chicago assaulted a successful business man and Church leader. I don't care.

Like he did last time? Obama was the empty suit last time. There are some worried mother farkers out there regarding this debate tonight. I fear for Chris Matthews mental health should Obama play dead again. He may stroke out right on live TV.

Obama runs the risk of fighting the last debate, not this one by focusing on attacks instead of answering the question. But he can make his case by being clear and concise that he is ready to lead and explain where he will lead. So far, he's just essentially said, "I'm better than that guy, and let's not change course." Nothing about why he should be re-elected.

Romney runs a risk of being too passive if Obama starts turning this into the Biden Show again. If Obama does the Biden laugh track thing, Romney will need to call him on it and ask him directly "What is so funny about (insert economic numbers here)." But then he may not be answering the questions of the audience either.

My best prognostication:

Both will have some wins and some losses in this debate. Those will depend more on the questions asked than the answers given (abortion, Big Bird, Libya). Nothing serious will change. The polls will continue to tighten.

Like he did last time? Obama was the empty suit last time. There are some worried mother farkers out there regarding this debate tonight. I fear for Chris Matthews mental health should Obama play dead again. He may stroke out right on live TV.

Like he did last time? Obama was the empty suit last time. There are some worried mother farkers out there regarding this debate tonight. I fear for Chris Matthews mental health should Obama play dead again. He may stroke out right on live TV.

Jon Stewart: "See what you did, Obama?! You broke Chris Matthews!"

It did show us that Chris Matthews can no longer claim to be objective.

Like he did last time? Obama was the empty suit last time. There are some worried mother farkers out there regarding this debate tonight. I fear for Chris Matthews mental health should Obama play dead again. He may stroke out right on live TV.

Jon Stewart: "See what you did, Obama?! You broke Chris Matthews!"

It did show us that Chris Matthews can no longer claim to be objective.

Both will have some wins and some losses in this debate. Those will depend more on the questions asked than the answers given (abortion, Big Bird, Libya). Nothing serious will change. The polls will continue to tighten.

Like he did last time? Obama was the empty suit last time. There are some worried mother farkers out there regarding this debate tonight. I fear for Chris Matthews mental health should Obama play dead again. He may stroke out right on live TV.

Jon Stewart: "See what you did, Obama?! You broke Chris Matthews!"

It did show us that Chris Matthews can no longer claim to be objective.

?????

He admitted Obama did a lousy job and was angry. How is that not objective? His desire was for a better performance but based on the reality of the performance he concluded it sucked.

I can accept Matthews isn't always objective. But you picked a terrible example.

Nor is his job to be objective. He's not a regular newscaster or reporter. He has his own show. But that's a separate matter.

unlikely:And if he does all of those things flawlessly AND has Jesus Christ rise up from the void to endorse him, the media will reluctantly raise their evaluation from "Obama got destroyed out there" to "It was a tie but only in the thinnest possible sense, I don't think this was the performance Obama needed."

It's a conspiracy to steal his bodily fluids by ensuring that he loses the election and has to get ejected from a cannon in the direction of Altair 6 while eating five hundred hotdogs and sipping 700 liters of RC Cola

I think the first debate did all the damage that will be done by the debates. Barring some catastrophe, the remaining debates will not move the polls. That's all I'm saying. Either side could shine tonight...but I think the movement that was done in a short few days as a tidal wave is over. Only slow movement will occur now because more people switched to decided from undecided (undecided on voting more than on who they support). There just isn't any more room to get that big swing.

I do think Romney will continue to make slow gains in the battlground states. Just not sure he'll make enough.

cman:unlikely: And if he does all of those things flawlessly AND has Jesus Christ rise up from the void to endorse him, the media will reluctantly raise their evaluation from "Obama got destroyed out there" to "It was a tie but only in the thinnest possible sense, I don't think this was the performance Obama needed."

It's a conspiracy to steal his bodily fluids by ensuring that he loses the election and has to get ejected from a cannon in the direction of Altair 6 while eating five hundred hotdogs and sipping 700 liters of RC Cola

I knew it. Damn. Dude go into hiding, you can't just give away their secrets and expect to live. Do you have a place to go to ground?

He needs the balls to say: You have given no specifics about what tax loopholes and deductions you will cut, this must mean that giving the richest 20% of Americans more money while cutting funding to programs that help poor and working families is the primary goal of your tax plan and all other talk about making it revenue neutral is far less important to you.

cman:unlikely: And if he does all of those things flawlessly AND has Jesus Christ rise up from the void to endorse him, the media will reluctantly raise their evaluation from "Obama got destroyed out there" to "It was a tie but only in the thinnest possible sense, I don't think this was the performance Obama needed."

It's a conspiracy to steal his bodily fluids by ensuring that he loses the election and has to get ejected from a cannon in the direction of Altair 6 while eating five hundred hotdogs and sipping 700 liters of RC Cola

You know how Obama could absolutely win this debate? Or Romney for that matter? Skydive from 24 miles up, then land outside the debate location.

PallMall:Dinki: 5. Finally- NEVER NEVER NEVER denigrate yourself- Don't say you haven't been a perfect president, don't say you haven't done everything you promised, don't say you wish you could have done more. That is Romneys job. Your job is to remind people of the good you accomplished, and to promise to continue to fight for them.

On the "rebut Romney's bogus studies" Obama needs to watch out for Romney's end game. One of Romney's biggest potential liabilities is damning studies from legitimate sources about his economic plans. By throwing out some blogs and saying "hey look, studies", he's setting up Obama to blast the studies at which time he'll say "look, we could argue about studies all day. You have yours, I have mine. Lets forget about studies and move on".

mrshowrules:Dinki: mrshowrules: So basically what Biden did with less interrupting?

Even Biden only scratched the surface on attacking Romney. There is so much material, Obama only needs to use it.

fark the right. Obama needs to motivate his base and go down fighting or win fighting. Let the media say that a black man in Chicago assaulted a successful business man and Church leader. I don't care.

I almost want him to say "Even though you'll disagree with my methods and maybe even my politics, understand that, unlike Gov. Romney who denigrated you, I will fight for you with every bone in my body."

unlikely:the media will reluctantly raise their evaluation from "Obama got destroyed out there" to "It was a tie but only in the thinnest possible sense, I don't think this was the performance Obama needed."

More specifically, those exact words will flow from the mouth of Chuck Todd.

mrshowrules:Diogenes: #9 - use some of the wit he employs on the campaign trail.

GOP Translation: "Obama was disrespect and made fun of Americans suffering"

If he fact checks Romney: "Constantly Interrupted and was rude to Romney"

If he is Polite: "Was asleep, appeared that the debate process with something that was beneath him"

If he is forceful in his arguments: "He was aggressiveness and reckless. Loose cannon"

If Obama wins: "It was a draw and will not stop the Mitmentum"

If it is a draw: "Obama lost definitively and Romney wins the election"

If Obama loses: "He was crushed and proof positive that American was hoodwinked into electing him. Prepare for a Reagan/Mondale level of failure this November"

That sounds more like the press translation. If he wants to "win" he's going to have to literally walk on stage and tear Romney's still-beating heart out of his chest. Even then he'll suffer a bad news cycle while people ask if he was too rude and aggressive.